Healing beyond cancer: How hyperbaric oxygen treatment helped Billy recover from radiation complications

Despite severe claustrophobia, Billy underwent approximately 120 hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions, finding relief from painful radiation-related wounds. 

For nearly three decades, Billy worked as a respiratory therapist, helping patients through challenging health situations. Then, after being diagnosed with Stage III anal cancer in 2024, the Kenner resident found himself on the other side of patient care, facing a complicated recovery of his own. 

Although chemotherapy and radiation successfully treated his cancer, Billy developed severe internal and external radiation-related wounds that caused debilitating pain and were difficult to heal. His pain persisted even with ongoing medical care, and he faced the possibility of major surgery. 

Searching for another option, Billy turned to hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which uses pressurized oxygen to help radiation-damaged tissue heal. Under the care of Micah Siegel, MD, and his team at West Jefferson Medical Center, part of LCMC Health, Billy began experiencing meaningful improvements in his wounds and pain, offering renewed hope for his recovery. 

Radiation complications following anal cancer treatment 

Before his diagnosis, Billy enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with his husband of 35 years, Steve. 

After experiencing unusual pain and discomfort, Billy visited his local primary care physician. Further evaluation revealed that his cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, small structures that help the body fight infection. His treatment plan included chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, which he completed in September 2024. 

Subsequent biopsies showed no evidence of cancer, but Billy developed significant radiation-related tissue damage. He experienced deep external wounds around the anal area, along with radiation proctitis, a condition involving inflammation and damage to the rectum following radiation treatment. Much of the damage was internal, making his condition especially painful and difficult to evaluate through external examinations alone. 

“For months, I was having to apply lidocaine gel about every hour just to manage the pain,” Billy recalled. “It was constant, and I couldn’t get very much relief.” 

His colorectal surgical team also performed examinations under anesthesia to assess the internal damage, while his wounds required frequent medical attention, including debridement, a procedure in which a clinician carefully removes damaged or dead tissue to help a wound heal. 

With his wounds proving difficult to heal, Billy faced the possibility of more extensive surgery, including a colostomy, a procedure that redirects stool through an opening in the abdomen into a collection bag. Hoping to avoid surgery, Billy recalled learning about hyperbaric oxygen treatment earlier in his career as a respiratory therapist. He raised the possibility with his radiation oncologist, who agreed it was worth exploring. 

How hyperbaric oxygen treatment supports wound healing 

For Billy, pursuing hyperbaric oxygen treatment presented an unexpected challenge: severe claustrophobia. When he first attempted treatment at another facility, he tried to enter a smaller hyperbaric chamber but found the enclosed space too difficult to tolerate. 

Billy was ultimately referred to Micah W. Siegel, MD, a specialist in undersea and hyperbaric medicine at West Jefferson Medical Center, who guided him toward a treatment plan that could accommodate his needs. The hospital’s larger hyperbaric chambers offered a more comfortable alternative, which Billy jokingly described as the “Cadillac” of hyperbaric chambers. 

West Jefferson’s hyperbaric chambers allow patients to rest on stretchers in a more upright position than some smaller models. For Billy, the additional space and ability to watch television during treatment helped ease his anxiety and made the experience more manageable. 

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment allows patients to breathe 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure helps oxygen dissolve into the blood plasma, allowing more oxygen to reach damaged tissue where poor circulation can slow or prevent healing. 

“Radiation is very effective at treating cancer, but it can also damage the surrounding healthy tissue,” Dr. Siegel said. “When radiation damages small blood vessels, it may reduce blood flow to the tissue. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment can stimulate angiogenesis, the formation of new small blood vessels. Once you have more blood flow to the tissue, it starts acting more like normal tissue again, and that’s when it can really begin to heal.” 

In addition to promoting new blood vessel growth, hyperbaric oxygen treatment can help the body’s white blood cells fight bacteria, while reducing inflammation and swelling. The treatment is used alongside other medical and surgical wound care, rather than as a replacement for those approaches. 

At West Jefferson, patients receive an individualized assessment to determine whether they are appropriate candidates. The hospital has two clear acrylic hyperbaric chambers, and treatment plans typically involve multiple sessions over several weeks or months, with progress evaluated along the way. 

For Billy, the care team was just as important as the equipment. He developed a particularly strong connection with Blaze, a hyperbaric technician and the program’s safety director, who helped him become comfortable with the treatment process. 

“I was really comfortable with Blaze. He’s very knowledgeable, and he always kept an eye on me,” Billy said. “Whenever I needed help, he was right there, whether that meant getting me out of the chamber or helping me calm down. His consistent presence made a major difference to me.” 

Blaze and the other hyperbaric technicians monitor patients from outside the chambers throughout each treatment, providing reassurance and responding to their needs. 

120 hyperbaric oxygen treatments and a new path to recovery 

Billy’s hyperbaric oxygen treatment required patience and persistence. He initially began with a course of 40 treatments, with Dr. Siegel regularly evaluating his progress. As his wounds began responding, additional treatments were recommended in increments of 20, eventually bringing his total to approximately 120 sessions. 

Dr. Siegel explained that Billy’s sessions were about half the usual duration to accommodate his needs. Although he completed approximately 120 visits, his total time in the chamber was comparable to roughly 60 standard-length sessions. For patients with severe radiation injuries, treatment courses may extend to 60 to 80 sessions, depending on their individual circumstances. 

“Hyperbaric oxygen treatment requires a relatively significant commitment from patients,” Dr. Siegel said. “They’re typically coming in five days a week, often for several weeks or even months. We recognize how demanding that can be, and our team works closely with patients to make the experience as comfortable as possible.” 

Despite the challenges of agonizing pain and claustrophobia, Billy remained committed to his treatment plan. After about 20 sessions, he began noticing signs of improvement, with his wounds gradually healing and his discomfort becoming more manageable. 

The difference has been particularly meaningful in his daily life. Where Billy once needed pain-relieving gel nearly every hour to manage his pain, he can now go approximately six hours between applications. One of his external wounds has nearly healed, while the deeper radiation-related damage continues to improve. 

His colorectal surgeon has also observed progress during follow-up examinations. More recently, his surgeon has been able to focus primarily on follow-up biopsies, as opposed to extensive wound debridement, because his wounds no longer require the same level of intervention. 

“Early on, my colorectal surgeon and I discussed whether hyperbaric treatment would help,” Billy recalled. “But as my wounds have improved, she’s become a total believer. I’ve been able to avoid the colostomy we were considering, and that means a lot to me.” 

Because much of Billy’s radiation damage was internal, Dr. Siegel evaluated his response through improvements in pain and other symptoms, visible wound healing, and findings from his colorectal surgeon’s examinations. These ongoing assessments helped guide decisions about additional treatments. 

Beyond the clinical improvements, Billy credits the West Jefferson team with making his recovery more manageable at home. Staff taught him how to care for his wounds, coordinated supplies, and worked to minimize discomfort. He especially appreciated Dr. Siegel’s gentle, understanding approach, including his willingness to stop wound care procedures whenever Billy experienced too much pain. 

Although his wounds have improved significantly, Billy’s recovery is not yet complete. Around the time of his cancer diagnosis, he also learned that he needed a hip replacement. That surgery has been delayed because his orthopedic surgeon is concerned about infection risk while his remaining wound continues to heal. The hip problems have limited his mobility and kept him largely homebound. 

Still, Billy is looking ahead. He hopes to receive clearance for hip replacement surgery, regain his independence, return to gardening, and resume his career as a respiratory therapist. 

For others facing difficult wounds or feeling anxious about hyperbaric oxygen treatment, Billy offers encouragement based on his own experience. “Give it a shot. Try not to be scared,” Billy said. “The doctors work closely with you and do everything they can to make you comfortable. Go in there and let them help you help yourself.” 

If you or a loved one is experiencing radiation-related wounds or other complications that make healing difficult, specialized care may help. Learn more about West Jefferson Medical Center’s comprehensive wound care services, including hyperbaric oxygen treatment.